Predicting TS12 Together: Swifties Share Their Thoughts
The things you agreed on and the theories that might change your mind!
Earlier this week, I wrote about the potential hints we’ve received so far that could provide insight into Taylor’s forthcoming twelfth studio album. In addition to recapping all the nuggets of information we know of, I also pulled together my projections on where Taylor’s next era could take us. Not just sonically, but stylishly too - of course!
I also wanted to take the time to turn outwards to this community and gather your thoughts on all things TS12. As a collective, I love tapping this insightful group of people for what we are hoping to see, hear, and have explored on this next body of work. (And also because who doesn’t love data.)
I sent out a Google Form on Instagram asking for your thoughts on TS12. I absolutely loved reading your responses. (Spoiler: In case you missed the window to fill out the survey, I’ve popped the questions from it at the end. Would love to hear your answers in the comments!)
Much like with my own prediction post, I share these thoughts not in the hopes that one gets proven right (though how fun would that be!). But more because this moment, the potential lead up of months and weeks to news of a pending era, is a buzzy and fun time in fandom. It captures a period when we all stand on a collective precipice, excitedly awaiting this next chapter of art. A fresh recollection of Taylor’s life up to now, but also a new framework by which we can make sense of our own place in this world. And isn’t that truly everything?
I hope in reading this that you perhaps find validation in your feelings (I’m not alone! I think that too!) or are perhaps even exposed to new potential theories (What an interesting perspective! That’s such an exciting train of thought!).
🔮 TS12 Predictions: I shared all of my thoughts on where I think this next album might go both sonically and aesthetically in a dedicated post — moodboards (plural!) included.
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Below, you’ll find:
Graphs! And moodboards! For those who love a visual on:
What style do you think TS12 will be?
What genre / sound do you think TS12 will explore?
When will TS12 be released?
Long form answers! For those who crave a deep dive on:
Notes on fashion and deeper dives into color schemes and inspiration sources.
An exploration of the many lyrical themes TS12 will touch upon.
I hope you enjoy reading this community’s thoughts as much as I did.
While I may not agree with every thought shared below, I believe at the heart of TSS is a coming together over differing opinions and even finding joy in that.
Note: Some of these responses have been lightly edited and condensed.
Naturally, the question I was more interested in hearing your thoughts on: the FASHION. As I was parsing the data and pulling together common themes, it was easy to pile concepts into the decade that ushered in a major fashion trend. But in a few cases, the sentiment was more on a vibe (sexy), or a color (orange), or even a pattern (plaid - HAH!).
Regardless, I loved seeing where our collective mind is at for how this era might be packaged.
Jacqueline said: “I think the aesthetics and fashion of TS12 might be 1920s Gatsby vibes especially with the art deco style of her letter she posted. The style could also be giving broadway vibes like Moulin Rouge or Chicago.”
Kaley said: “By the new logo she posted, I’m thinking 20s art deco. I think she’ll play off the idea of having all her jewels - aka albums - back in her grasp. She’s also been traveling a lot the last few years so I’m wondering if she’ll have any references to other countries or cultures she visited?”
Leigh said: “I think the new era will be bold, especially to contrast the black, white, and greys that defined TTPD. I’m imagining a modern 70s vibe. Think of the Midnights album and tour fashion in terms of color and pattern but with modern corseted silhouettes and mini skirts.”
Gracie said: “My primary word to describe TS12 is ‘dreamy.’ Sparkly, glittering, deep purples, blues, even bright oranges or gold. I’m thinking late 70s in terms of style, but less casual like Midnights, more disco! Brands like Etro or even something more costume-y like fun, sparkly Betsey Johnson.”
Taylyn said: “70s, bright colors, lots of patterns, florals, polka dots, etc. Think Lover’s brighter, younger sister.”
Amanda said: “90s preppy - think Clueless plaid, houndstooth, matching two pieces and skirts.”
Sarah (not me!) said: “I’m thinking plaid will be involved. I’m envisioning a kind of preppy, Abercrombie-type style much like her merch ads have been.”
Tiara said: “It HAS to be plaid! With a punk rock influence.”
Caitlin said: “I think orange is definitely involved, there’s been so much of it already! Hopefully bright - but not in a false Lover way, a more grounded, warm and happy way now that she lets herself shine!”
Connie said: “The vibe of a midwest summer sunset. Yes, maybe orange but more specifically a sunset.”
Zoë said: “A mix of quiet luxury and preppy, a continuation of the summer sporty collection. Think Reformation, Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren, and classic Americana.”
Erin said: “Classic, Ralph Lauren-centric Americana preppy + Dawson’s Creek vibes.”
Hannah said: “Revisit her vintage style of the RED / Kennedy era but more polished, rich club vibes. Think Ralph Lauren preppy.”
Alexandra said: “I think it will be flirty and sexy. The Grammys dress with the T jewelry was the only ‘clue’ when it comes to outfits that I think indicates anything about TS12. I feel like some people expect Taylor to select a color to represent the era that she hasn’t used before - like orange - but that’s just weird to expect her to go through the full rainbow of colors.”
Molly said: “An elevated continuation of her game day ‘fits. I’m thinking, in particular, of her corset with skirt and blazer. A little eclectic, but with strong sexy office siren vibes.”
Ali said: “TRAV INSPIRED - sexy but still approachable Taylor. I think Chiefs red will make an appearance! Maybe lots of brands like we’ve seen in recent game day ‘fits?”
Your sound predictions for the next era were in lockstep with your fashion forecasting. To me, this makes perfect sense. One naturally informs the other. Taylor uses both sound and style, in tandem, to communicate the story of her life. They work together to create a truly cohesive storytelling experience - and your predictions demonstrated that perfectly. A 1920s flapper style might foretell jazzy influences in her sound. Leaning into the flair (and flares!) of the '70s might mean the introduction of disco elements to her music. And so on. It was fun imagining pairing the aesthetics of the above with their corresponding genres that Taylor might explore.
The dominating suspicion was a continuation of Taylor’s solid foundation of pop music — but with a lighter, peppier, more vibrant twist. The most common refrain was “Midnights without the anxiety.” The rock contingent also continued their hopeful campaign for an album filled with a grittier sound that Taylor has sparingly displayed she’s capable of in the live setting.
Kate said: “The dream would be more acoustic-driven Carly Simon, post-Beatles George Harrison, Fleetwood Mac, with a hint of Starman-esque David Bowie. Very Laurel Canyon style with great depth.”
Jenna said: “I say this in hopes, but soft, acoustic ‘You Are In Love’ vibes. Lover verbiage but communicated through folklorian tones. Showing us that he knows how to ball but she KNOWS Aristotle.”
Vitória said: “Midnights but bigger. Less ‘confession in the middle of the night inside my room’, more ‘shouting from the car roof while we drive around town.’ Still pop, but with more instruments, edgier and warmer.”
Gretchen said: “Poppy but with more glitter pen songs. I’m thinking a happier and more in love Midnights. Like if reputation and Midnights had a baby and Lover was the aunt.” (Editor’s Note: I laughed at this family tree description!)
Vanessza said: “It would be interesting to see a *sparkly* take on Midnights sounds. It felt very heavy and dark - to represent all those sleepless Midnights. But I feel this album might explore the inverse: What are her ‘noons’ like now?”
Maude said: “Perhaps I'm just really hopeful, but I'm thinking vibes from the ‘70s. Maybe some psychedelic disco vibes? I'm thinking our nostalgic girl might be going for a vibe that gives a nudge to Lover, as it was the very first that she owned. I'm hoping a mix of Fleetwood Mac, Bruce Springsteen, St. Motel, Bowie and Elton John vibes. Maybe even some Patti Smith or Joan Jett.”
Lauren said: “I think we might get a jazzy, art deco vibe for this upcoming album. Think ‘Our Day Will Come’ by Amy Winehouse - that smooth, romantic energy seems to be reflected in the logo for this upcoming era too! Very much giving ‘False God’ vibes.”
Caitlin said: “I think we’re due for a jazz type album! Think Norah Jones.”
Glo said: “I think it’s going to be Lover 2.0 but better. Less doubt and anxiety surrounding her relationship. I crave pop rock. Would love more songs that sound like ‘We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together’ / ‘I Knew You Were Trouble’ (1989 Tour Version).”
Vishwa said: “Lots of synth pop and rock. I’d love to see her do more in the vein of ‘I Can See You’ and the angry rock version of ‘We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together’.”
Audrey said: “I am hoping for an ‘80s or ‘90s rock sound; The Cure, The Smiths, Fleetwood Mac, etc. I think she's gotten to a point in her career where she feels free to explore all sorts of different genres and this would be something we haven't heard from her before.”
Jenny said: “Two songs from Tortured Poets stood out as possible previews of the next sound: ‘Florida!!!’ and ‘So High School.’ I feel like we might see echoes of one of these in TS12. I also wonder if she'll lean into the Vaudeville vibe she delivered in the Eras Tour performance of ‘I Can Do It With A Broken Heart’ - that would align with the art deco of it all.”
Katie said: “‘So High School’ feels like the musical Easter Egg or the first taste of what we could see on TS12. I love what Aaron Dessner did on that song and feel like it showed his range not only to us but to Taylor and she’ll keep going back to him for that.”
Your thoughts on lyrical themes that TS12 might explore had one very dominating, landslide answer: Love! This was certainly of no surprise. One could argue it’s not only a predominant theme in Taylor’s music but in much of music as a whole. There was near universal agreement that TS12 was most likely to explore a happy, secure, and confident sort of love. But secondary themes also emerged to add dimension and cadence to a full track list.
Many of you highlighted a feeling of the calm after a storm, rediscovery of self, celebration, and ownership. There were also a handful of notes wondering about exploring darker, sensitive themes (navigating fame, family health, strained friendships, politics) or ideas left on the Tortured Poets cutting room floor. Generally, your sentiments pointed to an album that will be empowering and worthy of being sung from mountaintops (or, perhaps in our cases - while zooming down highways in cars at the top of our lungs).
Maria said: “A love that feels like having your youth returned to you, a lightness and playfulness in your life that’s been absent for a long time, accepting who you’ve become as an adult after having been dictated and picked apart by critics / the public for so many years. A true clean slate.”
Mallory said: “I think it’ll explore love but in a less anxious way than what we’ve seen from her before. It’s sure to have some poetic lyricism still sprinkled throughout, but I think it’ll feel a little lighter than Tortured Poets.”
Molly said: “I think she’ll continue to write a lot about fame and her relationship to it, examining further breaking up and falling in love while literally the whole world was watching. I’d also love it if she talked about being happy in her relationship but that she’s also a whole person who didn’t need ‘saving’.”
Pyper said: “I think there could be love songs about Travis, but more importantly I think there will be songs about her fame and new heights it reached with the Eras Tour. I think there will be songs about struggling to feel like a person, and having a lot of pressure to release new material constantly.”
Gracie said: “I think TS12 will be a redemption album — rising from the ashes after TTPD, finding happiness, hope, and yourself again. That’s why I think the sound will be pop: upbeat, fun, dance-y, carefree. Lyrics about returning to fun and love and friendship and letting go of timelines / expectations / plans.”
Riss said: “I think we’re going to see what Lover would have been like without the rose colored glasses. Love without anxiety. She’s in love and happy like she was during Lover but in a new way and with the benefit of hindsight. There’s also no way we aren’t getting a song about reclaiming her masters!”
Leigh said: “I wonder whether the album will once again be reflective of her past (think Midnights), heavily influenced by the memories that likely would’ve arisen through the process of re-recording, performing and eventually acquiring her masters. While I do suspect we’ll get a track or two about Travis, I don’t feel it will be a full love album.”
Claire said: “I think it’s obvious we’ll get some ‘I’m in love’ songs. But also maybe songs that dive deeper into the conversations she was having about female rage and fame in TTPD. She was really onto something with that and I think it’s the perfect moment to come out with something really powerful about her own femininity and power.”
Audrey said: “She just seems to be getting more and more famous as she gets older, and after Eras I would really like to know her thoughts on how her celebrity status has changed.”
Kristen said: “The softness that perhaps has finally arrived with her massive tour being completed, her life’s work being purchased, and easy love. With a touch of power thrown in the mix.”
Elena said: “Very sassy lyrics juxtaposed beautifully with heartfelt poetry. Lots of love songs that cover a spectrum of safety and joy and sex and feeling seen without having to feel sad. Possibly one or two kind of pissed off because what do you mean being this easy was an option this whole time, not having to shrink herself and hide and apologize for her ambitions and successes.”
Allyson said: “Definitely love. Being on top of the world. Being out and about with friends. Feeling like a 1989 era rebirth, but better. Wiser, more discerning, her friendships are more real. A few ‘breakup songs’ in there where she draws from fiction and friends.”
Lovie said: “With her newest relationship being so open, I definitely believe she will go along the themes of ‘love out loud’ and how it is different than how she felt before. Yet, she also just finished the largest tour ever, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see some melancholic songs about reminiscing and what she is going to do next. As a bonus, I feel there might be some more passionate songs based on ‘So High School’.”
Jenna said: “Love! Fun! Friends! Sex! Fame! How life is just… good now. :)”
This was actually the section that came as the most surprising to me. The variety of answers! Ranging from very soon (like as soon as next week soon) to very far away (years!).
The bulk of you — same! — believe this album to be coming this fall. To me, this not only aligns with the current timing of purported information in the works but it’s also a classically Swiftian time for an album release. Of her new original albums, 64% of them have an October-November release. What I was more surprised by was seeing how many of you — 32% — think this release isn’t set for the year following. And a spare few even a year beyond that!
I was also incredibly charmed by how many of you slipped in personal details about your own life and scheduling. Same! So much of the appeal of Taylor’s work is that it’s informed by her life, which we then overlay onto our own lives to form new memories and connections we can associate this art with. I know I associate reputation fondly with my first solo international trip: Hawaii for my 25th birthday. When I hear “island breeze and lights down low” - those are the memories I think of.
Kara said: “After September 2025 for Grammy eligibility next year (in line with her old release schedule). Maybe 10-10-25. Within this year that's for sure. Also, I'm guessing she'll announce the album release date in August.”
Lila said: “Sometime this fall! It would be a classic Taylor album release.”
Molly said: “October. But selfishly the sooner the better - I’m getting married October 25 and would love it if there were an amazing new love song to play :).”
Elena said: “Late September to early October. Fingers super super crossed because it aligns perfectly with a trip I have planned to a place I strongly correlate with new Taylor music in my life.”
Lovie said: “I don’t know what year, but I believe it will be in the spring, more specifically late spring. With the vibes I believe she is going for (loud, hopeful, passionate), it would make sense for her to release the album at the end of a season of growth into a season known for fun and new experiences.”
Riss said: “Not until 2026. She’s busy and she’s clearly been enjoying her time off with friends and family and Travis.”
Sophie said: “2026 at some point. I think Taylor wants this year of 2025 to relax make new music focus on her and Travis making memories enjoy her success in buying back her masters and her tour and then get back to releasing next year. Plus a part of me thinks she is waiting to see who will wait for her and who will just move on to the next greatest thing?”
Kate said: “I would kill for sometime this year but I think 2027. I think 2026 will be geared towards the 20th anniversary of her career and debut.”
As we potentially head into a new era, it also felt like an apt time to temperature check attitudes towards Taylor’s discography as a whole. I often find recency bias is very real. That is, the tendency for Taylor’s latest work to also be the most liked in people’s minds.
Knowing the general landscape of what albums continue to resonate with the fanbase provides us with a great baseline from which to guess at the next genre and how sentiment might fare for the direction of TS12. While Taylor is certainly going to pursue the sound she feels is most inspiring or right for the project, she’s also an artist who is very attuned to what her fans like hearing.
The top three fighting for your #1 didn’t necessarily surprise me. The aforementioned recency bias made it likely TTPD would show up. And, while now confirmed to be non-existent, the halo effect of reputation (Taylor’s Version) yearning is obviously still at play. The enduring popularity of folklore aligns with the new wave of fans it helped usher in, while also proving Taylor’s genre-hopping capabilities.
I hope this gave you something to think about! I had so much fun reading through all your hopes and predictions for this next era. In case you haven’t considered it yet, I’d love to hear from you now. Here are the questions from the original Google Form:
What FASHION do you think TS12 will be?
What SOUND do you think TS12 will be?
What LYRICS / SONG THEMES do you think TS12 will explore?
WHEN do you think TS12 will be released?
What is your favorite Taylor album currently?
Hi everyone, the intention of this post is to encourage sharing personal predictions and hopes for a future album in a safe, friendly way. I love reading the range of what kind of art would resonate with each of us. Please keep the tone supportive and open to discussion. This is a community!
I love these theories! My own contribution here is that I sincerely wonder if the album will be less happy than everyone is guessing. Certainly the part of her life that is romantic—and that is available to us—seems very joyful, but we also know about her dad having a heart attack, her complex relationship to fame, her protective nature over her own art—I suspect we’ll get a lot of emotionally turbulent songs that aren’t about love. Which fits the 1920s vibe too!! The flapper era was a time of intense upheaval, which came with freedom but also with uncertainty and confusion.